NEW YORK — Business groups in New York on Monday announced a new coalition to protect Israeli and Jewish businesses, amid concerns in the community over the administration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce Coalition aims to “protect the right to create, sustain and grow” businesses that were founded in Israel, have Israeli or Jewish owners, or are otherwise affiliated with Israel.

“These rights are being eroded by recent municipal policy changes in New York City as well as antisemitic incidents impacting local businesses and affecting New York’s business climate,” the group said in a statement that did not name Mamdani directly.

Mamdani, who took office last month, is a longtime supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel, although he has not announced any boycott policies as mayor.

On his first day in office, Mamdani revoked the city’s use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which covers some forms of anti-Israel rhetoric, and revoked an order that opposed the anti-Israel boycott campaign.

Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, established the New York City-Israel Economic Council, a unit in the mayor’s office, to build business ties between the city and the Jewish state by connecting Israeli business leaders with city officials.........

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